ITALY - Italy’s foreign minister is using the Shanghai Expo to improve bilateral ties and strategic partnership with China.
Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told the Xinhua news agency that the Expo offers a chance to “show the best of Italy to the Chinese people”, and hopes that 2010 will become a year of “closer cooperation” between Italy and China.
Frattini said Italy specifically aims to enhance bilateral cooperation with China in sectors including tourism, green technology and manufacturing, core elements of both economies.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Italy-China diplomatic ties, and Italy is marking the occasion with a series of events starting in September to highlight the history of the cultural link between the two countries.
The foreign minister also stressed the importance of the Italian pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, which will be used to help promote the Milan Expo in 2015 as much as to showcase the country's design, art, culture and technology.
"In the coming five years, between one expo and the other, we hope to improve bilateral cooperation, mutual knowledge and understanding of our societies," said Frattini.
The Milan Expo will be held under the theme ‘Feeding the planet, energy for life’. Topics are expected to include climate change and sustainable use of natural resources.
